Horsebridge House

This monitoring visit

The home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection in May 2016. Following this inspection, two compliance notices were issued. One compliance notice was issued in relation to Regulation 12: the protection of children standard. Following a monitoring visit in July 2016, the inspector found that the registered person had taken sufficient steps to protect young people and comply with the notice.

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This monitoring visit

A second monitoring visit was undertaken on 2 August 2016. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to ascertain the action that leaders and managers have taken in respect of the second compliance notice, issued under Regulation 13: the leadership and management standard. At the time of this monitoring visit, there were no young people living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Since the monitoring visit in July 2016, a new manager has been appointed and he commenced his role on 1 August 2016.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and head of service confirm that there are currently five core staff members. Their individual staff training records were viewed to ascertain the mandatory training that they have undertaken, and specific training to meet the needs of young people, as identified in the Statement of Purpose.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have now undertaken mandatory training that includes: safeguarding, de- escalation and restraint, first aid, fire awareness and food hygiene. This has mainly consisted of e-learning. The manager said that there is further ‘face-to-face’ training in safeguarding and first aid planned for mid-August 2016. In addition, ‘face-to-face’ fire awareness training is planned for November 2016.

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This monitoring visit

Not all staff have received training related to self-harm, attachment or e-safety. The manager said that due to staff sickness this training was delayed. He said that e-safety learning is included in the safeguarding training that is planned for mid- August, and he plans that all staff will be attending this training. He added that a confirmation date is pending in respect of the training regarding self-harm and attachment. All staff have received e-learning training related to epilepsy.

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This monitoring visit

The head of service and the manager stated that there are no immediate plans to admit young people, and that there will not be any admissions until all planned training has been completed.

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This monitoring visit

Two of the five core staff have now completed the required level 3 care qualification. One staff member is expected to complete this in the very near future, and two staff have enrolled to undertake the qualification.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, the inspector found that the registered person has taken sufficient steps to ensure that staff receive mandatory training, and specific training to meet the needs of young people for whom they wish to provide care and support. Progress in staff training and development and the remaining requirements will be assessed at the next full inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This service is operated by a private company which is part of the CareTech group, a national social care agency. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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needs are met

5. In order to meet this quality standard, the registered person must, and ensure that staff— (c) if they consider a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or a response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. In particular, to challenge providers of education to ensure that children receive their assessed educational needs. 30/06/2016

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The quality and purpose of care standard

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must— (2)(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child. In particular, ensure that all areas of the home are homely, well maintained and decorated to a good standard. 31/07/2016

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The education standard

8. In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(a)(i) that staff help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 30/06/2016 (viii) help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible.

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The protection of children standard

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard (with respect to following missing from home protocols), the registered person must ensure that— (2)(v) staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children. In particular, that each young person has an individualised missing from home protocol that has been agreed by the local police. 31/07/2016

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The leadership and management standard

13. In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must— (2)(e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. In particular, to undertake a management review of events that led up to two young people going missing from the home without staff’s knowledge, and to act upon the finding of this review to ensure that young people are kept safe. 30/06/2016

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Statement of purpose

16. The registered person must— (3)(b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. 31/07/2016

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Restraint and deprivation of liberty

20. (2) Ensure that restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. In particular, ensure that restraint is not used to force young people to comply. 30/06/2016

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Monitoring and surveillance

24. (1) The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— (d) the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than 30/06/2016 necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. In particular, ensure that bedroom door alarms are not used unnecessarily and that this is kept under constant review.

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Policies for the protection of children

34. (1) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— (a) is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect. In particular, refer any safeguarding concerns in respect of child- on-child safeguarding concerns to the local multi-agency safeguarding hub and the placing authority in a timely manner. 30/06/2016

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Behaviour management policies and records

35. (3)(a) Ensure that, within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the measure. 30/06/2016

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Notification of a serious event

40. (4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 30/06/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  ensure that any child who has been restrained is given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and circumstances of the restraint into account.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. in the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’ which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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